October 03, 2015
A New Jersey priest is facing charges after allegedly pointing a gun at a young parishioner because of an NFC East rivalry.
According to the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, Father Kevin Carter, 54, pulled aside an 8-year-old child before mass on Sunday, Sept. 13 at St. Margaret of Cortona Roman Catholic Church in Little Ferry.
Carter allegedly brought the boy into a rectory room and had him stand against the wall.
Authorities say several witnesses saw the priest pull out a long gun and point it at the child, threatening to shoot him.
NBC New York reports that the gun was a working Civil War-style musket and that the incident may have stemmed from the boy being a fan of the Dallas Cowboys. Per NBC:
Prosecutors said the priest, a Giants fan, was apparently unhappy because the boy planned to root for the Cowboys in a game against the Giants later that day.
"The young boy was apparently a fan of a particular football team, the priest was not. So perhaps we have indication it started out as that," said Molinelli.
The Giants lost the Sunday night game, 26-27.
Carter has been charged with aggravated assault by pointing a firearm and endangering the welfare of a child.
He was jailed on $15,000 bail with a 10 percent option and has been ordered to have no contact with the victim.
